These Before and After Photos Show How Much Cincinnati Has Transformed In the Past 15 Years

[image-1] It’s no question that Cincinnati’s landscape has seen its fair share of changes in recent years, but it’s easy to forget…

By CityBeat Staff

These Before and After Photos Show How Much Cincinnati Has Transformed In the Past 15 Years
47 slides

The Real Drinker's Guide to 24 Cincinnati's Essential Dive Bars

The Queen City is home to dozens of hip and trendy bars that offer excellent Instagram photo ops and cute bathrooms, but…

By CityBeat Staff

City View Tavern
    403 Oregon St., Mt. Adams
    A hillside dive and home of one of the best spicy bloody marys and best views in town. The burgers are damn tasty, too. Meet the Big Ted Deluxe: eight ounces of griddle-cooked, handmade beef patty with American cheese, mustard, lettuce, pickles, mayo, onion, ketchup, tomatoes, served in a plastic basket with a bag of chips. 
    Photo: Holden Mathis
24 slides

Cincinnati-Based Restaurant Chains That Are Actually Good

From cheese coneys to Big Boys, there are plenty of popular chain restaurants that have Cincinnati roots. And by "chain," we mean…

By CityBeat Staff

Skyline Chili 3-Way
    Multiple Locations
    The history of Cincinnati-style chili goes back to the 1920s, when it was invented by Greek immigrants who used Mediterranean-inspired spices to create a meat sauce used initially to top hot dogs sold out of a cart. The beef-based sauce — it’s kind of like a runny pasta sauce with hints of cinnamon, chocolate and other spices — eventually became the key ingredient in the 3-way, a plate of pasta topped with chili, an unnecessary amount of shredded cheddar cheese and a side of oyster crackers. Adding onions to the 3-way makes it a 4-way; onions and beans make a 5-way. Local chain Skyline Chili was founded by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides in 1949, inspired by his mother's family recipes from their hometown of Kastoria, Greece. In an eternal regional chili war, locals are divided over whether Skyline has the best chili and the other popular local chain, Gold Star, is for losers, or if it’s the other way around. You’ll find die-hard supporters of both. But if you want to go non-chain, there are more than 250 chili parlors in Cincinnati — restaurants big and small offering their own take on this regional favorite. Most people, however, start with Skyline.
    Photo via Facebook.com/SkylineChili
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This Rustic-Chic OTR Home with a Big Ass Fenced-In Yard is Less Than $300K

This Over-the-Rhine abode offers the best of both worlds: the spacious yard and two-car garage you'd find in the 'burbs, mixed with…

By CityBeat Staff

This Rustic-Chic OTR Home with a Big Ass Fenced-In Yard is Less Than $300K
34 slides

Cincinnati's Empower Agency Has Transformed its Windows into a Rotating Local Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays are here, and shopping local has never been more important. Cincinnati-based independent advertising agency Empower knows this, and the company…

By CityBeat Staff

Cincinnati's Empower Agency Has Transformed its Windows into a Rotating Local Holiday Gift Guide
15 slides

Inside Over-the-Rhine's 1940s-Inspired Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge

Despite the unusual circumstances of this year, Tammie Scott has been hard at work. She's putting the finishing touches on her new…

By CityBeat Staff

The bar at Nostalgia
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Cincinnati Businesses Are Using Their Boarded-Up Storefronts to Share Messages of Support

Many Cincinnati businesses throughout Over-the-Rhine have begun boarding up their storefronts after protests over the death of George Floyd by a police…

By CityBeat Staff

Goods
23 slides

25 Cincinnati Restaurants That Are Still Worth Writing About After 25 Years

The local food scene has been a cornerstone of CityBeat coverage since the beginning in 1994, albeit originally in slightly more obtuse…

By CityBeat Staff

Pompilios
    600 Washington Ave., Newport
    This restaurant, where the toothpick scene in Rain Man was filmed, has been offering classic family Italian food since 1933. You really can’t go wrong with any pasta dish. Play a game of bocce ball on the back court in the warmer months or grab a burger in the attached Colonel Pomp’s Tavern.
    Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Inside Pho Lang Thang's New OTR Location — Bigger, Boozier and Just as Delicious

Pho Lang Thang has been serving excellent Vietnamese eats since opening in Findlay Market in 2011. This fall, they got the chance…

By CityBeat Staff

The exterior of Pho Lang Thang's new location
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Inside Pendleton's BrewDog, the U.K.-Based Brewery's Second-Largest U.S. Taproom

Scotland-based brewery BrewDog is expanding its U.S. operations with a massive taproom in Pendleton at 316 Reading Road. It will be BrewDog's…

By CityBeat Staff

BrewDog is opening its second-largest U.S. taproom in Pendleton
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36 Deliciously New (and Newish) Cincinnati Restaurants to Eat at Right Now

Hello. Are you hungry? You probably will be at some point today or in the near future (unless you’re a robot). And…

By CityBeat Staff

Charred pulpo
37 slides

Over-the-Rhine Cocktail Bar Japp's Got a Glamorous Makeover, Let's Take a Tour

Popular Over-the-Rhine cocktail bar Japp's recently received a makeover, transforming the drinking destination into a brighter, more open space while holding onto…

By CityBeat Staff

Over-the-Rhine Cocktail Bar Japp's Got a Glamorous Makeover, Let's Take a Tour
14 slides

Inside Over-the-Rhine's Losanti, a Boutique Steakhouse Overlooking Washington Park

The team behind downtown's Crown Republic Gastropub has opened a new restaurant in Over-the-Rhine. The boutique steakhouse is situated in the former…

By CityBeat Staff

The team behind downtown's Crown Republic Gastropub has opened a new restaurant in Over-the-Rhine in the former Anchor-OTR space.
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10 Under-the-Radar Barbecue Joints in Cincinnati You Must Try

The Queen City has plenty to offer when it comes to superb smoked meats. Some may be off the beaten path or…

By CityBeat Staff

13 Under-the-Radar Barbecue Joints in Cincinnati You Must Try
11 slides

All the Photos from Second Sunday on Main's 'Sustain on Main' Event

Over-the-Rhine’s eclectic street festival returned over the weekend with a “Sustain on Main” theme. This event focused on businesses and groups who…

By CityBeat Staff

All the Photos from Second Sunday on Main's 'Sustain on Main' Event
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27 Low-Key Cincinnati Bars For a Chill Night Out

A night out on the town doesn't have to mean navigating through crowded bars and dodging elbows — there are plenty of…

By CityBeat Staff

The Blind Lemon
    936 Hatch St., Mount Adams
    Mount Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris café life. With live music every night, it’s one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city.
    Photo: Hailey Bollinger
27 slides

All The Photos From Bakersfield's 8th Anniversary OTR Block Party

OTR taqueria Bakersfield celebrated its eighth anniversary with a big ol' birthday party in the parking lot at 12th and Vine streets.…

By CityBeat Staff

All The Photos From Bakersfield's 8th Anniversary OTR Block Party
49 slides

Cincinnati's 11 Best New Bars and Clubs, According to Our Readers

When it comes to nightlife in the Queen City, we have an almost unlimited selection of bars, music venues, clubs and more…

By CityBeat Staff

1. 3 Points Urban Brewery
    331 E. 13th St., Downtown
    Photo: Hailey Bollinger
22 slides

Dog-Friendly Bars and Restaurants in Cincinnati to Bring Your Furry Friend

In October 2018, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 263, which permits "the owner of a retail food establishment or…

By CityBeat Staff

16-Bit Bar+Arcade
    1331 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine
    Calling all button smashers and pinball wizards: 16-Bit has more than 50 free arcade games and a tasty selection of celeb-inspired cocktails for you to slurp down as you relive your childhood nerdy nostalgia sans the quarters. If you want to drink like an adult while you act like a kid, try a cocktail like the Lisa Frank (vodka, watermelon Pucker, pineapple rum, fruit punch and an Airhead) or a Patrick Swayze (gin, simple syrup, lime, ginger beer and mint). Dogs get drinks, too, with branded water bowls featuring sayings like, “Buzz, your girlfriend, woof.” Pets are allowed indoors during the day and as long as the bar isn’t crowded. Bonus points if your pooch knows how to do any Mortal Kombat fatalities.
    Photo: Hailey Bollinger
31 slides

All the Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day in the Queen City

Valentine's Day is here once again, and the Queen City is feelin' the love. We've gathered a list of events going on…

By CityBeat Staff

Cupid’s Undie Run — Cincinnati
    Noon-4 p.m. Feb. 9. $45-$50. Mount Adams Pavilion, 949 Pavilion St., Mount Adams
    During this event, there will be a “brief” mile-ish run to find a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic tumor disorder that can affect 1 in every 3,000 births. The dress code encourages wearing nothing but undies for the run, but it’s not required.  
    Photo via Facebook.com/CupidsUndieRunEventPage
34 slides

Cincinnati's Big News Stories from 2018

           

By CityBeat Staff

This spring, a protracted fight between then-Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black and Mayor John Cranley over the dismissal by Black of a top Cincinnati police official spiraled into weeks of stalemate between Black, Cranley and Cincinnati City Council. Black eventually resigned moments before council voted to fire him. The battle in turn spawned  a lawsuit against five Democratic Cincinnati City Council members by conservative activists alleging they broke Ohio open meetings laws because they engaged in group texting about the matter. As if all of that weren't chaotic enough, the entire ordeal seems to have started with allegations that some high-ranking Cincinnati Police officers are misusing the department's overtime system — the subject of yet another ongoing lawsuit. Photo: Nick Swartsell
17 slides

20 Cincinnati Restaurants with New Year's Eve Dinner Specials

There's no better way to end the year than a lavish meal and some bubbly with your friends or your boo before…

By CityBeat Staff

Salazar
    1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
    Salazar will offer two five-course dinners with menus for omnivores and vegetarians. $90 per person / $120 with wine pairing.
    Photo via Facebook.com/Salazar
17 slides

Everyone We Saw at This Year's Cincinnati SantaCon

The 11th-annual Cincinnati SantaCon took place over the weekend, during which thousands of drunk dudes and ladies dressed up as Santa descended upon…

By CityBeat Staff

Everyone We Saw at This Year's Cincinnati SantaCon
24 slides

Cozy Up With These 15 Cincinnati Hot Chocolate Havens

Cafés are mostly associated with a range of coffee-inspired beverages,  but instead of caffeine, you can also turn to the cup-of-joe’s often…

By CityBeat Staff

Cozy Up With These 15 Cincinnati Hot Chocolate Havens
15 slides

Inside Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom Located Near Findlay Market

Starting Nov. 15, Cincinnati’s brew enthusiasts will have yet another option for social sipping: the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Tap Room in Over-the-Rhine, located across…

By CityBeat Staff

Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom
    1727 Logan St., Over-the-Rhine
    There’s no need to truck over to Boston for fresh Sam Adams. This taproom — across from the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery — features indoor and outdoor space, spans nearly 9,000 square feet and offers an array of unique beers brewed both onsite and across the street. These include fan favorites like the Cincy-inspired 513, Boston Lager and Summer Ale. “We’ve been dreaming of opening a taproom in the neighborhood since we purchased the brewery 21 years ago, so we could share our beers with local drinkers,” says Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch. “Cincinnati is my hometown with such a rich brewing history and I’ve seen our city blossom as a craft beer mecca that is home to some of the finest breweries and taprooms in the country.”
    What to try: Coffee Pale Ale, a taproom exclusive that’ll perk you right up.
    Photo: Hailey Bollinger
32 slides

These 23 Restaurants and Bars are New or Coming Soon to Cincinnati

Cincinnati's city center is an ever-expanding hub for foodies and nightlife enthusiasts. Here are some of the places that are opening soon…

By CityBeat Staff

Rich’s Proper Food & Drink
    701 Madison Ave., Covington
    This bar and restaurant operates out of the more than 100-year-old building formerly occupied by Rich's Gruen Watches, a high-end jewelry store. The bar’s menu includes wine, beer, cocktails and spirits, with a special emphasis placed on bourbon. The kitchen provides food with a twist on Southern fare with Creole and Kentucky influences.
    Photo: Hailey Bollinger
22 slides

All The Photos From Washington Park's Fall Fest Weekend in OTR

Washington Park transformed into a fall festival with live music, activities for kids, craft vendors, artisan eats, baked goods and more this…

By CityBeat Staff

All The Photos From Washington Park's Fall Fest Weekend in OTR
22 slides

Embrace Your 'Basic' Side With These Local Pumpkin-Flavored Foods

The internet has tried to convince the world that indulging in some of autumn's most iconic traditions means that you may fall…

By CityBeat Staff

Taste of Belgium
    Pumpkin waffle
    1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
    Photo via Instagram.com/TasteofBelgium
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Take Home One of These 15 Adoptable Cincinnati Pets

Have you been considering adopting a new furry pal? With dog-friendly coffee shops, bakeries, bars and parks, Cincinnati is a great place…

By CityBeat Staff

Grace
    Age: 8 years old | Breed: Papillon | Sex: Female | Rescue: SAAP 
    Photo via adoptastray.com
15 slides

Historical Photos from the 1888 Centennial Exposition in Cincinnati

They called it the “World’s Fair of Cincinnati.” When the Centennial Exposition of the Ohio Valley and Central States first began to…

By CityBeat Staff

The bridge connecting Music Hall and Park Hall over Elm Street
22 slides